CVE-2026-16928: CWE-122 Heap-based Buffer Overflow in IBM AIX
Description
IBM AIX 7.2, and 7.3 and IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1 could allow a remote attacker to cause a denial of service due to a heap-based buffer overflow.
CVSS v3.1
Score 7.5high
Affected software
IBM
AIX
IBM
PowerVM VIOS
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aix:7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aix:7.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aix:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aix:7.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:ibm:powervm_vios:4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:ibm:powervm_vios:4.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*Run on your own infrastructure? Check whether these packages are installed with threat-finder — our free open-source scanner.
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
IBM AIX 7.2, 7.3, and IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1 contain a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability (CWE-122) that could be exploited remotely to cause a denial of service. The vulnerability is identified as CVE-2026-16928. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.5, indicating high severity, with attack vector network, low attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and impact limited to availability (denial of service). There is no vendor advisory or patch information available at this time.
Potential Impact
A remote attacker could exploit this heap-based buffer overflow to cause a denial of service on affected IBM AIX and PowerVM VIOS systems. There is no indication of confidentiality or integrity impact. No known exploits are reported in the wild.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until an official fix is released, monitor vendor communications for updates. No specific mitigation or workaround is currently documented.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- ibm
- Date Reserved
- 2026-07-24T07:19:53.640Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 6a871857acd9273b49c60d00
Added to database: 08/20/2026, 15:08:07 UTC
Last enriched: 08/20/2026, 15:22:28 UTC
Last updated: 10/04/2026, 16:08:36 UTC
Views: 61
Community Reviews
0 reviewsCrowdsource mitigation strategies, share intel context, and vote on the most helpful responses. Sign in to add your voice and help keep defenders ahead.
Want to contribute mitigation steps or threat intel context? Sign in or create an account to join the community discussion.
Actions
Updates to AI analysis require Pro Console access. Upgrade inside Console → Billing.
External Links
Need more coverage?
Upgrade to Pro Console for AI refresh and higher limits.
For incident response and remediation, OffSeq services can help resolve threats faster.
Latest Threats
Check if your credentials are on the dark web
Instant breach scanning across billions of leaked records. Free tier available.